Fire brick curing

[Kelly]

Is there a curing process for fire brick? I bought twenty bricks today at Acme Brick in Olathe, Kansas to insulate my smoker. I lined the inside of my firebox, top and sides, along with the bottom of the smokebox. I'm worried they will crack or pop if I don't warm them correctly the first time. Has anyone else done this?

 

[jestridge]

I think the bricks will be ok , but if you use morter it should be heat up slowly the first time.

 

[Midnight Smoke]

I believe the Fire Bricks have already been fired, if you are going to seal them together with fireplace cement or a refractory type cement then they need to be gradually brought up in temp to 500º to cure the cement..

 

[Brauma]

Just don't start with a roaring fire the first time and you'll be OK. Low & slow

 

[polishdon]

Bricks are good to go, it's the mortar that needs to cure.

 

[Chef Jim]

Bricks are good to go, it's the mortar that needs to cure.

What He Said.

 

[Gowan]

Bricks are good to go, it's the mortar that needs to cure.

This is correct. Also keep in mind that for maximum strength mortar should be allowed to cure slowly, not forced by a fire.

I'm doubting that mortar could be used successfully in a mobile smoker application though, as the vibration from transport would probably cause it to fail.

 

[landarc]

Fire bricks are typically best used non-mortared if possible. Even in the outdoor oven applications I have seen them used in, they are set tight with no mortar.

 

[SmokinGuitarPlayer]

Almost positive you can just fire the thing up as they are already cured.

 

[caseydog]

Any bricks or stones that have been in standing water, or rained on long enough to soak up moisture, need to dry before you heat them above boiling temperature.

Firebricks are not very porous, but hey can still absorb water, just not as readily as more porous clay bricks.

Just keep your bricks dry, and you should never have a problem. If you don't know how they were stored before you got them, you may want to go with low heat for a few hours to make sure there is no water trapped inside them.

CD